Well, here it is, September 11th again. A day when all media outlets will try to outdo each other with somber rememberances of this date, five years ago.
Today, our political leaders, community leaders, religious leaders, spiritual leaders, teachers, bus drivers, auto mechanics, and stay-at-home-moms/dads will wail and gnash their teeth about the tragic day. As a nation, we will moan about how our lives have changed, and how we all feel "less safe". We will talk about the things our government has done to make us more safe, or, depending on your viewpoint how much less safe the country is. Today, we will do one of the things that Americans do better than nearly everyone. Feel aggrieved.
We are right to feel aggrieved... but let's not get too weepy, ok?
I'm going to tell you something that the current administration doesn't want you to know. It isn't classified, but they don't want you to know this:
Terrorists Aren't a Major Threat To American National Security.
Didn't get that? Here is is again: Terrorists Aren't a Major Threat To American National Security.
"But, but, but... How can you say that, Bill!!!???"
Here's the thing: Terrorists have the ability to kill American citizens. These killings usually are numbered in tens, sometimes in dozens. Occasionally they get lucky and do something really large and get to kill a hundred or more. Then there are the spectacular and so far, once-only, times when more than two thousand Americans/westerners are killed. I don't mean to make light of the deaths of innocents, but I have to say that with numbers like that, Islamist terrorists can't hope for any real victory. Let's be honest... every time there is a terrorist attack against Americans, our country winds up killing people in Islamic countries in a number way out of proportion to our losses.
Asshats with strap-on bombs, or hijackers, or car bombers, etc.... can only bother us. They are sort of like a wasp stinging an elephant. The wasp may hurt the elephant, and he may hurt the elephant more than once, but at the end of the day, the wasp will die much sooner than the elephant, and for all the stinging, the elephant's life will continue much as it always had.
We need to be aware about terrorism. We need to pay attention to the mintuae of security. We need to undestand nothign we can do will make this stop completely. We need to gut up and quit whining.
We haven't seen the end of this, nor will our grandchildren.
There have always been terrorists.
There will always be terrorists.
Terrorists will always be able to kill people that live in democracies, because it is in the nature of enlightened, civilized, democratic societies to be open. Remember folks, places with the lowest crime rates are police states, and I'll have none of that, thank you.
There are threats to this country. There are nations that would love to see our demise, chief among them is a country called China... and they will probably win their war against us without ever firing a shot.
While the current administration keeps using Islamist fruitcakes to scare the electorate by trundling like they are a major threat to our sovereignty, the Chinese threat grows, and grows, yet we do nothing about it.
So, be of good cheer, be wary of terrorism, drive your SUV to WalMart, buy a new tank for the People's Liberation Army.
Likely we'll never know what hit us.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Friday, September 8, 2006
My Mother-In-Law
I am not going to commit an act of violence.
I am not going to commit an act of violence!
I'mnotgonnacommitanactofviolence!!!... but God save me, I'd like to.
Ahem.
So... last week, during my wife's weekly conversation with that leathery winged harpy that she calls "mother", my daughter gets on the phone, and of her own volition says: "grandma, can you buy me a computer for Christmas?" Apparently Grandma makes affirmative noises which pleases my little one to no end. After getting the phone back, my wife talked to her mother and all was well.
Fast forward to this week's call. The little one talks to grandma, who immediately after saying hello says: "why don't you ask your other grandmother for a computer?", which Olivia, dutifully, said she would do. My harpy-in-law then ended the conversation. Of course, we knew none of this until after my wife finished her conversation. Olivia was upset and didn't understand why grandma had abruptly changed course.
It's not like she does much for the kid in the first place... not that we really expect her to, all the way from Milwaukee... but, geez!
OK... a few comments:
1) My in-laws are retired... My FIL is a retired railway worker and a retired soldier (from the Army as a Sergeant Major). MIL, as the wife of a retired railway worker gets a separate pension of her own. They prepared well for retirement. they live their days with absolutely no worries about money, thank God.
2) Computers can be pricey.
3) Little kids say unexpected things.
4) It is ok to say no.
5) My wife and I can afford to buy the kid a computer (and will), but she never said a thing about it to us... as she can use ours, I guess.
What pissed me off about the whole thing is that MIL should have said something to one of us adults instead of just shooting the kid down a week after she said she would buy the freakin' computer!
During our phone call next week, I intend to speak to MIL about this. When the conversation is over, she won't be happy, the irritating mean-spirited, old bitch!
I am not going to commit an act of violence!
I'mnotgonnacommitanactofviolence!!!... but God save me, I'd like to.
Ahem.
So... last week, during my wife's weekly conversation with that leathery winged harpy that she calls "mother", my daughter gets on the phone, and of her own volition says: "grandma, can you buy me a computer for Christmas?" Apparently Grandma makes affirmative noises which pleases my little one to no end. After getting the phone back, my wife talked to her mother and all was well.
Fast forward to this week's call. The little one talks to grandma, who immediately after saying hello says: "why don't you ask your other grandmother for a computer?", which Olivia, dutifully, said she would do. My harpy-in-law then ended the conversation. Of course, we knew none of this until after my wife finished her conversation. Olivia was upset and didn't understand why grandma had abruptly changed course.
It's not like she does much for the kid in the first place... not that we really expect her to, all the way from Milwaukee... but, geez!
OK... a few comments:
1) My in-laws are retired... My FIL is a retired railway worker and a retired soldier (from the Army as a Sergeant Major). MIL, as the wife of a retired railway worker gets a separate pension of her own. They prepared well for retirement. they live their days with absolutely no worries about money, thank God.
2) Computers can be pricey.
3) Little kids say unexpected things.
4) It is ok to say no.
5) My wife and I can afford to buy the kid a computer (and will), but she never said a thing about it to us... as she can use ours, I guess.
What pissed me off about the whole thing is that MIL should have said something to one of us adults instead of just shooting the kid down a week after she said she would buy the freakin' computer!
During our phone call next week, I intend to speak to MIL about this. When the conversation is over, she won't be happy, the irritating mean-spirited, old bitch!
Thursday, September 7, 2006
Soccer Dad IV
Thought you were done reading about this stuff, didn't you? Fat chance!
Tonight is the first night of soccer practice for the fall season, and yours truly is primed and ready! Armed with my copy of "The Complete idiot's Guide To Coaching Youth Soccer" I have already set up our drills and excercises for the evening. I know of a group of eight-year-olds that are going home tired tonight!!!!
My daughter is excited... she is so jazzed up the she wanted to wear her cleats in the house last night (not happening, baby!). On the subject of cleats, I had to remind the team moms at our meeting the other night, that they need to check and make sure that their kids shoes still fit. The ones that they wore during the spring season may have been outgrown over the summer.
Most of the girls from last year are returning to play again this year. Of the two that aren't returning; one is ill and the other isn't playing because she hates running, which was readily apparent last year. We picked up one more player, who has never played before, so the team is relatively intact with only one brand new player.
Our first game is this coming saturday, which should be interesting, as the little cherubs are going to have to play wihout the coaches on the field with them for the first time... and we are going to have referees as well! The coach, Debbie, is going to run substitutions while I do the shouting from the sidelines.
The only fly in the ointment is that the girls have decided that they didn't want to keep the name "Iron Butterflies". Being little girls, they decided that they just want to be The Butterflies. Bummer. I kind of liked the old name better, but I guess the reference to the 1960's acid rock band was lost on kids born in the late 90's.
This is gonna be fun.
Tonight is the first night of soccer practice for the fall season, and yours truly is primed and ready! Armed with my copy of "The Complete idiot's Guide To Coaching Youth Soccer" I have already set up our drills and excercises for the evening. I know of a group of eight-year-olds that are going home tired tonight!!!!
My daughter is excited... she is so jazzed up the she wanted to wear her cleats in the house last night (not happening, baby!). On the subject of cleats, I had to remind the team moms at our meeting the other night, that they need to check and make sure that their kids shoes still fit. The ones that they wore during the spring season may have been outgrown over the summer.
Most of the girls from last year are returning to play again this year. Of the two that aren't returning; one is ill and the other isn't playing because she hates running, which was readily apparent last year. We picked up one more player, who has never played before, so the team is relatively intact with only one brand new player.
Our first game is this coming saturday, which should be interesting, as the little cherubs are going to have to play wihout the coaches on the field with them for the first time... and we are going to have referees as well! The coach, Debbie, is going to run substitutions while I do the shouting from the sidelines.
The only fly in the ointment is that the girls have decided that they didn't want to keep the name "Iron Butterflies". Being little girls, they decided that they just want to be The Butterflies. Bummer. I kind of liked the old name better, but I guess the reference to the 1960's acid rock band was lost on kids born in the late 90's.
This is gonna be fun.
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
The First Day of School
Today is Back To School Day here in Prince William County, and I wasn't about to miss the first day of school for anything!
I left home at about 0450 this morning, and was in the office by 0515. I got some things done, went to the gym, had a shower and shave, put on my uniform and drove straight to my kid's school to meet her and my wife, who drops her off in the mornings.
My little angel looked darling in her navy blue uniform and bright yellow rainboots (it was raining like nobody's business first thing this morning, here in the DC area), and was proudly pulling her bookbag along behind her.
At the school, all of the kids seemed to be excited about the beginning of the school year. As we walked across the parking lot to the school's entrance, my daughter called out to her friends and was greeted by lots and lots of her pals from first grade. She and her friends were so busy chattering that she could barely spare me the 5 seconds that it took to listen to me say: "be a good girl, pay attention to your teacher, and have fun today". She responded with a kiss on the cheek and a "'bye daddy!", and was off. My wife walked her to her classroom, but, since I had already met the teacher (at last week's "Meet 'n Greet"), I jumped back into my car and headed back to work. I was feeling just a wee bit sad at the fact that she was so eager to part company, but I put it down to being selfish. She is growing into her own person, and I get enough of her time. Still, I like being the person she comes to when she needs to feel safe.
I got back to work in about 15 minutes, and was greeted in the parking lot by a colleague that had just taken his daughter to her first day at middle school. I asked Jim how it had gone and he said: "Dude, as soon as I got near the school, she was ready to jump out of the car and get inside!". Jim wasn't all that happy about his experience, either.
At least I got a kiss.
I left home at about 0450 this morning, and was in the office by 0515. I got some things done, went to the gym, had a shower and shave, put on my uniform and drove straight to my kid's school to meet her and my wife, who drops her off in the mornings.
My little angel looked darling in her navy blue uniform and bright yellow rainboots (it was raining like nobody's business first thing this morning, here in the DC area), and was proudly pulling her bookbag along behind her.
At the school, all of the kids seemed to be excited about the beginning of the school year. As we walked across the parking lot to the school's entrance, my daughter called out to her friends and was greeted by lots and lots of her pals from first grade. She and her friends were so busy chattering that she could barely spare me the 5 seconds that it took to listen to me say: "be a good girl, pay attention to your teacher, and have fun today". She responded with a kiss on the cheek and a "'bye daddy!", and was off. My wife walked her to her classroom, but, since I had already met the teacher (at last week's "Meet 'n Greet"), I jumped back into my car and headed back to work. I was feeling just a wee bit sad at the fact that she was so eager to part company, but I put it down to being selfish. She is growing into her own person, and I get enough of her time. Still, I like being the person she comes to when she needs to feel safe.
I got back to work in about 15 minutes, and was greeted in the parking lot by a colleague that had just taken his daughter to her first day at middle school. I asked Jim how it had gone and he said: "Dude, as soon as I got near the school, she was ready to jump out of the car and get inside!". Jim wasn't all that happy about his experience, either.
At least I got a kiss.
Friday, September 1, 2006
The MTV Video Music Awards
I watched the MTV Video Music Awards Last Night. Did any of you see it? What a bunch of crap! Maybe I'm just too old to watch it anymore.
Please be patient with me while I share a few thoughts... I may not be terribly coherent, as I have a splitting headache as I type this.
Is it just me, or is Justin Timberlake the most girly-man in the business these days?
Shakira... no, sweetie, your hips don't lie, and I love what they say.
Jessica Simpson... hello? Your 15 minutes of fame are nearly over, hope you enjoyed it. Oh, and she was hammered.
A Piece of advice to the men of the entertainment world: Unless you normally wear a beard or are currently filming a role that requires you to have a beard, please don't appear on television unshaven. I don't get the whole grungy "I-look-like-I-Just-got-out-of-bed-and-didn't-bathe" look. What's that all about?
I've never been a big fan of hip-hop music or culture. The main reason is that I have never been able to identify with it, especially because I believe it to be destructive on many levels. I now have a new reason: I CAN'T UNDERSTAND A GODDAMNED THING MOST OF THEM ARE SAYING! I mean, really!
Jack Black was really horrible as host. Somebody call Jimmy Fallon, please!
I confess, I never watch MTV, and until last night, I hadn't seen 99 percent of the videos that are up for awards. Some of them really looked awful. Please note that I don't include Shakira in that category.
Li'l Kim was a presenter... couldn't she have stayed in prison? She tried to come across as some sort of victim. Memo to Kim: You went to prison for lying in court about a gunfight! You aren't a victim, baby, you are a criminal.
The Pussycat Dolls won an award for something (I'm not sure what it was). How could that happen?
I need coffee, friends... more later.
Please be patient with me while I share a few thoughts... I may not be terribly coherent, as I have a splitting headache as I type this.
Is it just me, or is Justin Timberlake the most girly-man in the business these days?
Shakira... no, sweetie, your hips don't lie, and I love what they say.
Jessica Simpson... hello? Your 15 minutes of fame are nearly over, hope you enjoyed it. Oh, and she was hammered.
A Piece of advice to the men of the entertainment world: Unless you normally wear a beard or are currently filming a role that requires you to have a beard, please don't appear on television unshaven. I don't get the whole grungy "I-look-like-I-Just-got-out-of-bed-and-didn't-bathe" look. What's that all about?
I've never been a big fan of hip-hop music or culture. The main reason is that I have never been able to identify with it, especially because I believe it to be destructive on many levels. I now have a new reason: I CAN'T UNDERSTAND A GODDAMNED THING MOST OF THEM ARE SAYING! I mean, really!
Jack Black was really horrible as host. Somebody call Jimmy Fallon, please!
I confess, I never watch MTV, and until last night, I hadn't seen 99 percent of the videos that are up for awards. Some of them really looked awful. Please note that I don't include Shakira in that category.
Li'l Kim was a presenter... couldn't she have stayed in prison? She tried to come across as some sort of victim. Memo to Kim: You went to prison for lying in court about a gunfight! You aren't a victim, baby, you are a criminal.
The Pussycat Dolls won an award for something (I'm not sure what it was). How could that happen?
I need coffee, friends... more later.
Monday, August 28, 2006
My Siblings
T is the oldest at 48. She is an ordained minister and a parish Pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She lives in New Jersey. My sister is an interesting person, she is... mercurial in temperment, but has a heart of gold. She is divorced and has a 22 year old daughter from her marriage. She has been with her partner, P, for around five years.
H, my only brother, is 47, and is a recently retired Senior Master Sergeant in the Air Force. He is employed doing some interesting things for the U.S. Air Force as a civilian. H is married (since 1988) and has an eleven year old son. He is still recovering from a really bad multiple fracture of one of his legs last year. He is walking normally (almost) now, thanks to a lot of painful physical therapy.
K, is next at 44. Oddly enough, she and I are closest even though we didn't meet until six years ago (papa was a rolling stone, apparently). She is a German national and is a nurse. She has two sons, who think it is cool that both of their uncles are American, but speak German.
N, is the baby. She will be 33 next week. N is a professional dancer, and was, until recently, with the touring company of The Lion King. She has decided to open a dance studio in L.A.
My siblings are quite an assortment. I like them all for the most part, although we aren't particularly close.
I haven't seen T or K, since um... 2000. I haven't seen N since 1997, but I did see H a few months ago... and he only lives 25 miles from me.
Does it mean anything bad that I have no particular drive to spend time with my siblings?
H, my only brother, is 47, and is a recently retired Senior Master Sergeant in the Air Force. He is employed doing some interesting things for the U.S. Air Force as a civilian. H is married (since 1988) and has an eleven year old son. He is still recovering from a really bad multiple fracture of one of his legs last year. He is walking normally (almost) now, thanks to a lot of painful physical therapy.
K, is next at 44. Oddly enough, she and I are closest even though we didn't meet until six years ago (papa was a rolling stone, apparently). She is a German national and is a nurse. She has two sons, who think it is cool that both of their uncles are American, but speak German.
N, is the baby. She will be 33 next week. N is a professional dancer, and was, until recently, with the touring company of The Lion King. She has decided to open a dance studio in L.A.
My siblings are quite an assortment. I like them all for the most part, although we aren't particularly close.
I haven't seen T or K, since um... 2000. I haven't seen N since 1997, but I did see H a few months ago... and he only lives 25 miles from me.
Does it mean anything bad that I have no particular drive to spend time with my siblings?
Friday, August 25, 2006
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
As many of you know, my family and I spend our summer vacations at the House of Mouse, also known as Walt Disney World, in Orlando, Florida.
If you have read my post from April about our Disney addiction, you already know the reasons why. If you haven’t read it yet, please follow the link, so I don’t have to take up everyone’s time with this.
Our vacation started on Thursday, the third of August. We didn’t do any traveling that day… I spent the day with our little one, doing laundry and yard work. My wonderful Mrs. had already done most of the packing, and was picking up the rented minivan from National Airport (I still refuse to call it Reagan National) so there wasn’t much else to do other than to load it up (and install the electronics)when she got home, which I did in fairly short order.
The next morning, after a decent night’s sleep, we were on the way!
Our itinerary was simple, drive to St. Simons Island, Georgia for a couple of days on the beach, and then move on to Orlando to hang out with Mickey Mouse and friends for two weeks.
St Simons was a nine hour drive (eight when I drive alone, but this is vacation…. Who is in a hurry here?) Which caused us to cross the Coosawhatchie River on I-95? There was no reason to tell you this other than to have the opportunity to use “Coosawhatchie” in a sentence!
Our stay at St Simons was great! We had a nice suite overlooking the ocean and right across from the historical (and still operational) lighthouse. Olivia thought this was seriously cool (and so did we!). There was a great beach there, called east beach, which is adjacent to the “old” Coast Guard Station. What made the beach so great was that it was wide, clean, and had a very low grade to it. No walking in three feet of water, dropping of to ten feet by surprise at this place! At low tide, the plates added another 100 yards to the beach, and also added some really great tidal pools ad places to collect shells.
While we were on the island, we also had the chance to go to the Fort Frederica National historical park. What fun! We had two days of history and relaxing beach fun before pressing on to Orlando, on Sunday, the 6th.
Oh… and if you ever get to St Simons, make sure you eat at least one of your dinners at “Frankie G’s Island Diner”, the food is to die for.
We made it to Orlando in about three hours with very light Sunday traffic (here in DC, traffic on 95 is even heavy on Sunday morning!).
We spent two great weeks at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club on International Drive, where I slept late every day, only getting out of bed before 8:30 once for the whole two weeks (heaven!).
I’ll spare you all of the Disney details, as I know that talking about Disney can send some people into seizures… but if you care to know them, please email me, and I’ll send you our detailed trip journal.
We spent our time between going to the Disney theme parks, water parks and our pool. It was great. We love to have our concentrated family time as it is often difficult to find in our busy lives.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and we arrived back home last Sunday, after a grueling 13 hour drive.
We are already looking forward to next August.
Vacations are good (expensive, but good). I highly recommend them.
If you have read my post from April about our Disney addiction, you already know the reasons why. If you haven’t read it yet, please follow the link, so I don’t have to take up everyone’s time with this.
Our vacation started on Thursday, the third of August. We didn’t do any traveling that day… I spent the day with our little one, doing laundry and yard work. My wonderful Mrs. had already done most of the packing, and was picking up the rented minivan from National Airport (I still refuse to call it Reagan National) so there wasn’t much else to do other than to load it up (and install the electronics)when she got home, which I did in fairly short order.
The next morning, after a decent night’s sleep, we were on the way!
Our itinerary was simple, drive to St. Simons Island, Georgia for a couple of days on the beach, and then move on to Orlando to hang out with Mickey Mouse and friends for two weeks.
St Simons was a nine hour drive (eight when I drive alone, but this is vacation…. Who is in a hurry here?) Which caused us to cross the Coosawhatchie River on I-95? There was no reason to tell you this other than to have the opportunity to use “Coosawhatchie” in a sentence!
Our stay at St Simons was great! We had a nice suite overlooking the ocean and right across from the historical (and still operational) lighthouse. Olivia thought this was seriously cool (and so did we!). There was a great beach there, called east beach, which is adjacent to the “old” Coast Guard Station. What made the beach so great was that it was wide, clean, and had a very low grade to it. No walking in three feet of water, dropping of to ten feet by surprise at this place! At low tide, the plates added another 100 yards to the beach, and also added some really great tidal pools ad places to collect shells.
While we were on the island, we also had the chance to go to the Fort Frederica National historical park. What fun! We had two days of history and relaxing beach fun before pressing on to Orlando, on Sunday, the 6th.
Oh… and if you ever get to St Simons, make sure you eat at least one of your dinners at “Frankie G’s Island Diner”, the food is to die for.
We made it to Orlando in about three hours with very light Sunday traffic (here in DC, traffic on 95 is even heavy on Sunday morning!).
We spent two great weeks at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club on International Drive, where I slept late every day, only getting out of bed before 8:30 once for the whole two weeks (heaven!).
I’ll spare you all of the Disney details, as I know that talking about Disney can send some people into seizures… but if you care to know them, please email me, and I’ll send you our detailed trip journal.
We spent our time between going to the Disney theme parks, water parks and our pool. It was great. We love to have our concentrated family time as it is often difficult to find in our busy lives.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and we arrived back home last Sunday, after a grueling 13 hour drive.
We are already looking forward to next August.
Vacations are good (expensive, but good). I highly recommend them.
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